Labour Party Crisis Deepens as Chairman Abure Rejects Otti-Backed Interim Committee

The internal crisis within the Labour Party (LP) escalated as National Chairman Julius Abure firmly opposed the formation of a 29-member interim committee, labelling it “illegal.”

The committee, led by Senator Esther Nnenadi Usman, was established at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the party’s national leader, Peter Obi. It was intended to oversee party operations temporarily.

Governor Otti, the only Labour Party governor in Nigeria, emphasized the necessity of the committee to prevent the party from collapsing, warning that internal disputes could jeopardize future electoral prospects. Usman, a former Minister of State for Finance, pledged to steer the party through a “rescue mission.”

However, Abure, along with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), immediately condemned the move, calling it unconstitutional. Despite being invited to the meeting, Abure chose not to attend, later asserting that the actions taken were legally baseless and an overreach of authority.

The interim committee, which includes members from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and political representatives, was tasked with organizing the party’s congresses and national convention within 90 days.

During the meeting in Umuahia, Governor Otti clarified that he had no personal stake in who becomes the next national chairman but stressed the need for the party’s survival. Peter Obi, addressing the gathering, called for unity and backed the caretaker committee, stating that the Labour Party, now the third-largest political force in Nigeria, must present a united front.

NLC Vice President, Salamatu Aliu, also attended the meeting, advocating for legal procedures in establishing the committee. Stakeholders reaffirmed their support for Obi as the national leader and endorsed the interim committee to fill the leadership gap temporarily. They also urged all party members with legal disputes to withdraw them in the interest of unity.

Senator Usman, accepting her role as head of the committee, vowed to unite the party and meet their objectives within the 90-day mandate, expressing optimism about the party’s future, including the 2027 presidential elections.

However, Abure and his NWC rejected the caretaker committee, describing it as illegitimate. In a statement from National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, Abure insisted he remained the lawful chairman and criticized the Umuahia meeting as a “charade.”

Abure also challenged Governor Otti to produce any official correspondence from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supporting the need for interim leadership. He argued that there was no leadership vacuum and that the interim committee was simply an extension of the Abia State Government, not a recognized entity within the party.

In his statement, Abure added, “The so-called caretaker committee is not known to the constitution of the Party and can best be described as a department in Abia State Government House.”